Session Updates
The session plans for the Congress are really taking shape and below is a taster of some of the sessions that we will be holding.

Patient involvement in patient safety: What progress have we made and what’s next?
This session will consider the progress in patient involvement in patient safety in the last five years focussing on its impact.  The session will concentrate on sharing and considering what we can learn from examples of patient involvement in patient safety at international, regional and national levels.  It will highlight examples from IAPO, patient groups, and the work of Patients for Patient Safety (part of WHO Patient Safety).  Participants will be asked to consider what priorities and opportunities there are for patient involvement in patient safety in the future.

Anna Lee from WHO Patients for Patient Safety will be chairing the session and presenters include Bev Hurst, IAPO representative for National Concern for Healthcare Infections (NCHI) and WHO Patients for Patient Safety Champion.

Creating strategies for sustainability
This session will explore the key success factors for patient groups in developing successful fundraising approaches. We hope to gain an insight into this through presentations and discussion with experts on funding from industry, trusts and foundations, European level funding and community fundraising. The aim of this session is to give participants a better understanding of the funding options available to them and to equip them with the tools to become effective fundraisers.

Launch of IAPO's Patient Advocate Learning and Exchange Programme (PALEP)
During Members Day, IAPO will be launching our Patient Advocate Learning and Exchange Programme (PALEP). Come along to this workshop session to learn how this exciting programme can help develop the capacity and reach of your organization's work and the individuals within your organization. This session will be practical and interactive and will benefit anyone hoping to better understand the capacity, strengths and weaknesses of their organization, or who is interested in learning more about PALEP. 

Pre-registration for all workshop sessions will be sent out in due course. We look forward to seeing you there.